Trump digs in on wall during surprise appearance

Donald Trump has used a surprise appearance at a White House news briefing to say he has "never had so much support" for his plan to build a wall on the Mexico border.

Mr Trump asserted it was essential to keep out illegal immigrants, amid a row over its funding which has led to a partial government shutdown in the US.

"You can call it a barrier – you can call it whatever you want – but essentially we need protection in our country," said Mr Trump.

"We're going to make it good. The people of our country want it.

Image: 'We're going to make it good. The people of our country want it', said Donald Trump

"I have never had so much support as I have in the last week over my stance for border security, for border control – and for frankly the wall of the barrier.

"I have never had anything like it in terms of calls coming in, in terms of people writing in and tweeting…"

President Trump said officials had apprehended 17,000 criminals trying to get across the border into America last year.

Shortly before the news conference, he also tweeted a video of what appeared to be migrants trying to rush the border and throwing rocks, alongside captions including "lawlessness", "drugs" and "crime".

Several members of staff from immigration and border patrol followed Mr Trump, taking to the podium to stress the need for a physical wall.

Mr Trump had started his surprise appearance – at the first White House news conference of 2019 – by congratulating Nancy Pelosi for being re-elected as Speaker of the House of Representatives.

Despite the Democrats now controlling the House, Mr Trump said he thought Republicans could still work productively with their opponents.